New Delhi, Oct. 9 -- An unprecedented security clampdown has been put in force in the Capital ahead of Saturday's protest by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) at Jantar Mantar, with the deployment of 25,000 police and paramilitary personnel, closure of 45 metro stations, suspension of internet services in parts of central Delhi and cancellation of hundreds of trains.
After Delhi Police denied permission to the CJP to hold a protest at Jantar Mantar, the Centre rolled out an extensive security and surveillance plan, ordering intensive checks at the city's border points, railway stations, bus terminals, hotels, guest houses and other locations to prevent protesters from entering restricted areas.
According to police, the arrangements are aimed at preventing an unauthorised sit-in at Jantar Mantar and maintaining law and order amid the possibility of large-scale mobilisation. More than 120 companies of Central Armed Police Forces are expected to be involved in the security arrangements.
Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan has written to police chiefs of all states and Union Territories, directing them to coordinate with Delhi Police ahead of the CJP's proposed October 10 protest. The October 9 letter referred to intelligence inputs suggesting that party members and supporters could attempt to enter Delhi despite the denial of permission. States have been asked to coordinate with intelligence agencies and border-monitoring authorities and ensure continuous information-sharing.
The New Delhi district has been divided into 20 zones to strengthen security arrangements. Each zone will be monitored by a Joint Commissioner of Police, a Deputy Commissioner of Police and an Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police. Special Commissioners of Police heading various units will also supervise the arrangements and coordinate with senior officers to respond to any law-and-order situation.
At least seven layers of barricading have been installed on roads leading to Jantar Mantar. A radius of around 1.5 km covering Jantar Mantar, Janpath, the Election Commission and Delhi Police headquarters has been designated a highly sensitive zone, with more than 6,500 personnel expected to be deployed in the area.
Police have prepared 12 detention centres, including several city stadiums, for people who may be detained during the protest, sources said. Loudspeakers have been installed at sensitive locations to inform people that permission for the demonstration has been denied and warn against unauthorised gatherings, violence and damage to public property.
Addressing a press conference on Friday, Joint Commissioner of Police Nupur Prasad said permission for the proposed October 10 demonstration had been denied because the application was submitted at short notice and concerns had arisen over alleged violations of rules during an earlier protest.
She said the application was submitted on October 7, just three days before the proposed gathering, whereas rules require applications to be filed at least 10 days in advance. Police also cited concerns over compliance with directions issued by authorities during the July demonstration.
The CJP protest is directed against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, who has faced allegations of voter-list tampering under the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and of bypassing his two colleagues to alter Form 6, a key document for voter registration.
Internet services will be suspended within a 4-km radius of the Janpath-Kartavya Path crossing from 10 pm on Friday until 10 pm on Saturday. The Union Home Ministry has approved the decision, sources said. The suspension will cover all mobile internet technologies, with Airtel, Jio, Vodafone Idea and MTNL directed to implement the order. Internet services in the rest of Delhi will remain unaffected.
Surveillance has been stepped up with the installation of more than 300 CCTV cameras equipped with audio and video capabilities at sensitive locations in the New Delhi district. Body cameras are being deployed for senior police officers, including those of the rank of Additional Commissioner of Police and above. Around 100 photographers and videographers have also been engaged to record developments and the police response in real time.
Police are monitoring social media platforms, with more than 200 content creators reportedly under scrutiny in connection with mobilisation for the protest.
The government has advised large social media firms to prioritise action against unlawful content related to ongoing protests based on complaints received from authorised bodies, including law enforcement agencies. The Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY) is learnt to have issued an advisory to social media platforms on October 8, expressing concern over the online circulation of certain information related to the ongoing protests that is false, misleading, manipulated or presented out of context.
An awareness campaign has also been launched through community centres, mosques and resident welfare associations to inform residents that the demonstration has not received permission.
Hotels, lodges, guest houses and dharamshalas are being checked as part of the preventive security exercise. Accommodation providers, including Airbnb operators and property owners, have been asked to remain vigilant. Police are also issuing appeals through mosques and temples, urging people to maintain peace.
The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has revised its earlier plan to restrict entry and exit at 57 stations. Under its latest advisory, entry and exit at 45 stations will remain closed from 9 pm on Friday until 6 pm on Saturday. Interchange facilities will remain available at the affected stations, except New Delhi Metro Station.
The affected stations include Janpath, Patel Chowk, Central Secretariat, Lok Kalyan Marg, Rajiv Chowk, New Delhi, Seva Teerth, Mandi House, Barakhamba Road, ITO, Delhi Gate, Khan Market, Ramakrishna Ashram Marg, Jhandewalan, Supreme Court, Indraprastha, Shivaji Stadium, Dilli Haat-INA, Hauz Khas, Jor Bagh, Lajpat Nagar, Jangpura, Ashram, Jamia Millia Islamia, Chawri Bazar, Jama Masjid, Karol Bagh, Rajendra Place, Vishwavidyalaya, Kashmere Gate, Inderlok, Guru Teg Bahadur Nagar, Netaji Subhash Place, Azadpur, Jahangirpuri, Haiderpur Badli Mor, Majlis Park, Seelampur, Maujpur-Babarpur, Jafrabad, Welcome, Yamuna Vihar, Khajuri Khas, Shahdara and Rithala.
Two Namo Bharat stations, Sarai Kale Khan and New Ashok Nagar, will also remain closed from 9 pm on Friday until 10 pm on Saturday.
Railway services have also been disrupted by the security arrangements. According to the latest update, 254 trains, including 75 Mail and Express services and 179 local trains, have been cancelled between 4 am and 2 pm on Saturday. The cancellations affect services connecting Delhi with destinations such as Ghaziabad, Meerut, Panipat and Kurukshetra.
Several trains scheduled to arrive at or depart from New Delhi and Hazrat Nizamuddin railway stations have been affected. Old Delhi, Anand Vihar and Delhi Cantonment railway stations will remain operational. Passengers have been advised to check their train status before leaving.
Retail liquor shops across Delhi have been ordered to remain closed on October 9 and 10 as a preventive measure.
Delhi Traffic Police has announced possible diversions from 6 am on Saturday, depending on the situation. Around 30 road stretches have been identified where traffic could be affected, including areas around Jantar Mantar, Connaught Place, Mandi House, Patel Chowk, Ashoka Road, Janpath, Lodhi Road and Dhaula Kuan.
Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Dinesh Kumar Gupta said diversions would be introduced depending on the prevailing situation, but there would be no complete road blockades or closures. Commuters have been advised to avoid non-essential travel, allow extra time and follow official traffic updates, particularly when travelling to railway stations, interstate bus terminals or the airport.
The New Delhi Traders Association has advised shops, offices, restaurants and other establishments in Connaught Place to remain closed on Saturday. Markets in Bhagirath Palace and Chandni Chowk have also announced plans to shut for the day.
Delhi Airport has advised passengers to plan their journeys in advance and allow extra time to reach the airport because of possible traffic restrictions and security checks.
Security has also been stepped up at the borders connecting Noida with Delhi, with police personnel and Border Security Force (BSF) jawans deployed at key points. Sources suggested that police could move to seal the border around 9 pm on Friday, though official confirmation was not immediately available.
Uttar Pradesh has also been placed on high alert, with districts in the Meerut and Bareilly zones bordering Delhi asked to remain particularly vigilant. Security checks have been intensified on routes leading to the Capital, while planned demonstrations in Lucknow, Agra, Meerut, Bareilly, Ghaziabad, Noida, Prayagraj and Varanasi are being monitored.
Gautam Buddh Nagar has imposed restrictions under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita from October 10 to October 20, citing the possibility of protests, festivals and public gatherings.
Several trains connecting Lucknow and Delhi have also been cancelled, including the Lucknow Mail and New Delhi-Lucknow AC Superfast Express on Saturday and the Lucknow-New Delhi Gomti Express on Sunday.
Police personnel will monitor developments throughout Saturday and respond to crowd build-up, traffic obstructions and attempts to breach barricades. The scale of the preparations is expected to affect commuters, businesses and residents across parts of Delhi and neighbouring Uttar Pradesh as authorities attempt to prevent the unauthorised demonstration from spreading to other parts of the Capital.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.